London: Twenty-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer, who will be making his first hard-court appearance since Miami Open in March, has said that he is anxious ahead of the Cincinnati Open.
The 37-year-old, however, asserted that he is happy to be back and hoping for a good tournament ahead.
“I’ve been practising on hard courts, so it’s not like I haven’t played on hard courts for forever. I feel I am really ready to go. Anxious actually,” ATP website quoted Federer, as saying.
“Cincy has been a great tournament for me in the past. It’s great to be back and hopefully I can play a good tournament,” he added.
The Cincinnati Open will be Federer’s first tournament since Wimbledon where he was stunned 2-6, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11 by South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the quarter-final of the championship.
Federer will play his opening match of the tournament against Peter Gojowczyk of Germany on August 15.
Meanwhile, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic defeated Steve Johnson of America to win the opening clash of the Cincinnati Open.
In women’s singles event, American tennis star Serena Williams has edged past Daria Gavrilova of Australia to enter the second round of the tournament.
(ANI)